2008 Greek Treasures in English
Instructor: Joanna Petsalis
Tuesdays, November 4, 11, 18, December 2, 9 and 16
10:30 am - Noon
It has been estimated that one-third of the words in English and other European languages have their direct roots in the Greek language. The technical vocabulary that originates from Greek has reached approximately two-thirds in the same languages,and keeps rising.
This course will refresh our memory with a few hundred word roots from the Hellenic language. The combination of these roots can provide volumes of word possibilities. The two hundred well-known words that will be presented have made their impact on the human path, have influenced our past, describe the present, and most of them are likely to be used to describe our future. Greek is not only the language through which we obtain scientific knowledge, it is also the one through which we know and comprehend religion. It is the vehicle by which we first understood the concepts of religion. Through these “Greek Treasures,” we will be able to explore and understand many more concepts, as well as realizing how easy it is to learn the Greek language – and the term “It’s Greek to me” will soon have a whole new meaning.
Location: Continuing Education Center
Member: $49; Non-member: $69
Eckerd College International Film Series
Fridays beginning in October
7:00 pm
Eckerd College’s International Cinema Series, named “Best Local Film Series” by Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay 2007, screens critically acclaimed and important films from around the world every week, beginning in October. Restorations of honored classics, as well as contemporary films that have captured the attention of critics at recent film festivals, are presented. Attendees can expect documentaries, narrative feature films, and the
occasional experimental work. In a given semester, an Asian horror flick might be shown alongside art house European cinema or experimental features and cutting edge critical documentaries from just about anywhere imaginable. While tending to avoid “blockbuster” films of the sort that might be found at the local movieplex, the series aims to create a balance between artistry and innovation in cinema, on the one hand, and appealing and accessible styles and important subjects, on the other.
Films are screened in the Dan and Mary Miller Auditorium on the Eckerd campus. All programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise stated. No tickets are required.
For more information, please visit the website: www.eckerd.edu/ic
1936 The Church and the Vatican: History, Power, Challenges
Instructor: Joe Menasce
Fridays, September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, and 24
10:00 am - Noon
By way of lectures and videos, this course will cover the history of the Catholic Church more from a historical than a theological perspective. Starting with the history of the Early Church as it emerged from the womb of Judaism, progressing to the role of the Popes during the Middle Ages, and finally leading to the Modern Church and the Vatican, the course will touch upon the key events that fashioned the Church into one of the most influential institutions in the world today. Among these events are the impact of the first Pope, St Peter; Emperor Constantine’s move to Byzantium; the great East-West Schism; the foundation of the Papal States; the Crusades; Avignon and the Western Schism; the Renaissance and the Arts of the Papacy; the Age of Humanism; the origins and impact of the Protestant Reformation and the resulting Counter Reformation; and finally the establishment of the Vatican in 1929. Also included will be a review of the Church’s government, economy, etc., as well as the challenges it faces as it struggles to resolve key issues of dogma that conflict with modernism.
The Church’s recognized contributions to Western Civilization will be explored in detail, along with the roles of some of the most important Popes and notable women who have influenced the Papacy and the course of history.
Location: Continuing Education Center
Member: $49; Non-member: $69
1939 Taoism (Daoism)
Instructor: Roberta O’Connor
Tuesdays and Thursdays, September 16, 18, 23 and 25, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Chuang-tze dreamed he was a butterfly, flitting around a beautiful garden. When he awoke, he did not know whether he had been a man dreaming he was a butterfly or whether he was now a butterfly dreaming he was a man.
This is just one of many philosophical questions Taoist sages have posed that remain interesting to consider. You have heard of Tao, yin and yang.
You may have heard of feng shui, as a landscaping and decorating technique, and of tai chi as a meditation and exercise technique; you may even have read The Tao Of Pooh. Do you know anything about the ancient tradition from which they arose? Taoism is China’s primary indigenous religion;
its roots stretch back into the Neolith period around 7000 to 4000 B.C.E.
Over the centuries, Taoist sages like Lao-tze and Chuang-tze have puzzled over universal questions that have always confronted humanity. Their thoughts add a richness and texture to our own thoughts as we wonder about the origin of life, how to survive in and protect our environment,
the meaning of death, how best to coexist with others, and a myriad of other questions. Yet, the I Ching (Book of Changes), part of which dates back to about 1000-800 B.C.E., is full of pithy comments that have a curiously modern tone, such as: “He who feels punctured must once have been
a bubble.”
This course will offer another lens through which to look at China as we attempt to understand this huge country with its enormous population, which will continue to play a crucial role internationally for the foreseeable future. As is usually the case when studying another culture, participants are
likely to develop some insights into their own culture, as well. The course content will include:
- History and basic concepts of Taoism
- Tao Te Ching, teachings of the (possibly mythical) sage, Lao-tze
- Use of the I Ching (Book of Changes)
- Evolution of the three streams of Taoism (Philosophical, Esoteric, Religious)
- Main sects in Taoism
- Application of feng shui principles in your environment
Location: Continuing Education Center
Member: $39; Non-member: $59
1940 Digging Up the Bible
Instructor: J. Stanley Chesnut
Mondays, October 6, 13, and 20, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
“Biblical archaeology is a special ‘armchair’ variety of general archaeology.” It involves study of the discoveries from excavations that illuminate the Scriptures and lead to the understanding and exposition of the Judaeo-Christian Bible. (from Biblical Archaeology, by G. Ernest Wright, p. 17)
What is the current status of archaeology in the Holy Land? How can excavations and other research continue in countries where there is occasional or even frequent violence between opposing factions? Reports from sources closest to the action – both archaeological work and militant attacks – will give us some insights into this issue.
When did the interest in digging up sites in the Middle East that are part of biblical history begin? We will review some of the earliest efforts to find physical evidence that relates to events, places, and people in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and in Christian Scriptures (New Testament). We will see how the somewhat crude work of the first archaeologists eventually developed into the ‘scientific’ study of history that now characterizes most contemporary biblical archaeology.
There were times in the past when digging for historical evidence was not orderly and driven by objective purposes. In fact, many ancient sites were despoiled by tomb robbers and treasure hunters. Changes gradually occurred, however, as governments and educational institutions joined forces to control the process of excavation and direct it toward the scientific recovery of knowledge as well as artifacts.
The 20th century witnessed great advances in biblical archaeology, with major excavations at such sites as Jerusalem, Jericho, Samaria, Megiddo, Hazor, Bethel, Shechem, and many others. In Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt in particular, there are hundreds of excavated tells (mounds of ruins) related to the Bible, and hundreds more in these and nearby countries yet to be fully studied. In these early years of our 21st century this research continues to reveal more valuable information about the history, culture, and religion of the biblical time and area.
In this class there will be frequent use of audio/visual aids to illustrate pictorially and in words the subject matter of our study. There are no required readings or assignments, but a list of suggested readings will be provided if your interest in learning leads you onward. And the instructor’s caution is this: Remember that we’re only scratching the surface in this short course on Digging Up the Bible!
Fee includes lunch on three dates.
Location: Continuing Education Center
Member: $63; Non-member: $83
2039 Native American History and Culture as Illuminated by Archaeology and Anthropology
Instructor: Roger F. Block
Monday, November 17, 11:00 am - Noon
This one hour course will summarize the latest research into the peopling of the Americas based on emerging archaeology, genetic, linguistic and
geo-archaeological science. Then we will review the history of Native America prior to European contact and the devastating impact of this epic
contact on the culture, survival and spirituality of the New World’s indigenous peoples. We will summarize Florida Native American history in
general and specifically in the Tampa Bay region by discussing the archaeology of several important Native sites stretching from Crystal River to Weedon Island in north St. Petersburg and Little Salt Springs in Bradenton. Finally we will look at Native American spirituality and how it organized their world. Understanding will be enhanced through hands-on inspection of many ancient and more modern Indian cultural artifacts collected through more than 20 years of contact and working with Native Americans throughout America.
Attendees will come away with a greater understanding of the significant cultural legacy left by our original Native Peoples and how this special heritage can still be experienced by exploring many archaeological sites and museums that continue to celebrate the Native American experience.
Location: Continuing Education Center
Member: $19; Non-member: $29
An Introduction To Greek Myth
Instructor: Duncan MacMillan
1942 Continuing Education Center
Tuesdays, October 7, 14, and 21, 10:00 am - Noon
1943 Palm Harbor/Dunedin
Wednesdays, October 8, 15, and 22, 10:00 am - Noon
People live according to the stories they tell themselves about the world and their perceived place in it. The ancient Greeks created a profound and vivid life narrative through their gods and myths. These deities of ancient Greece seem familiar to us, at least on the surface, but their body of myth has many layers of meaning which may still provide insight into the patterns of modern life. This class will introduce you to these ancient gods and their stories, with particular attention to the ancient literary sources (epics, tragedies, philosophers) that brought them so vividly to life for their
ancient adherents.
Member: $39; Non-member: $59
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